Got my windows tinted......need advice now to get it redone

[yarisitis]

I got my 3-door liftback tinted last week. 5% on the back 3 windows and 15% on the two side windows for $140.

Now that I've spent some time driving it, I'm afraid I went too dark in the back. I don't feel comfortable driving at night because I can hardly see a thing. I can see out of the two 15% side windows pretty well at night so I think I'll keep those.

I called the tint place back and asked them how much they would charge to have the 3 back windows re-tinted to 15% to match the two side windows. At first I was told $75, but that's more than half of what I paid, so then he said $65 cash.

Do you guys think $65 is a fair price to have the 3 back windows re-tinted?

[Yaristeve]

I paid about $50 per window to get mine tinted. I wouldn't haggle about removing the rear window tint since there is a possiblity that the defogger wires could get damaged; the tint shop I went to has a disclaimer about damaging the defogger wires when removing tint so I suspect the place you went to does as well...

[brg88tx]

i went with 20% all around including the back glass. i wish i would have went darker on the back. big truck headlights are bright as hell.

[yarisitis]

Damn, I didn't even think about the defogger wires possibly getting messed up. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Now it makes me hesitant as to whether I should have it changed at all. Has this happened to anyone?

I looked on my receipt and saw no disclaimer about damaging the defogger wires, only a disclaimer saying that they can't be held responsible for any fix it tickets you get.


In retrospect, I should have gotten all the windows a lot lighter. AT LEAST 20% all around. Pretty damn stupid mistake on my part, now I'm paying for it.

[Shinare]

I got %20 all around and it like it a lot. Honestly, unless you back up a lot I dont see why you would care too much about whats behind you. If anything %5 on the back glass should be just enough to see headlights. You know there are a lot of vehicles that have no rear window at all (semi's, box trucks, utility vans, etc). Prudent driving and properly adjusted side mirrors should be good enough.

Maybe get some brighter reverse lights (like super LED's), which would look cool anyway, might help?

[yarisitis]

True, it is enough for me to see the headlights of cars. But that's pretty much it, and unfortunately, that's not enough for me.

I rely a lot on my rear view so I can know where cars are around me, I don't know why I drive like this but I do. And now that I can't see that well out the back, I don't feel 100% comfortable driving at night. I like to be able to see more, like the lines for the lanes behind me so I can tell which lanes the cars are in.


My girlfriend said exactly what you said, that I just need to get used to it. But I don't know, I think I'd feel more comfortable with the 15% in the back.

[Uber_Otter]

Have you upgraded the strereo? If it has a color display you can hook up a back up camera for pretty cheap. I run 5% on the back 5 windows in my Xa with no issues. I would get a camera or replace the backup lights with halogens. Its like turning on daytime. 5% keeps people from seeing anything in the back without a spotlight.

[JumpmanYaris]

Do it your self them are really easy to do

[Betrivent]

5% is very very low. I'm sure you're just not used to it. I've got something like 5-10% (Previous owner did the tint), and I can see just fine at night.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

You'll get used to it. That's how I felt the first week with my tint (also have 5% on the back 5 windows [sedan]). Now, I can see just fine.

[yarisitis]

You guys are right. I'm just being paranoid and picky about it. I'll get used to it like you guys said.

If I need to worry about something, it's getting a fix it ticket lol. Anyone know how much those cost now in CA?

[Yaristeve]

Sherriff's station in Santa Clarita charges $15.00 to inspect and I think it was $20.00 court cost.

As long as you have two side view mirrors, the rear tinting could be opaque if you wanted. It is the front side windows that may cause you to be cited.

[Uber_Otter]

You guys are right. I'm just being paranoid and picky about it. I'll get used to it like you guys said.

Wont take long. The reason it seems so bad is at night you look in the mirror and see NOTHING. Thats normal, once a car is back there with lights it doesnt seem bad at all.

Really if you see nothing then theres nothing to see. You may accidently back over some ninjas,,,,but them are slow ninjas, they had it coming.

Anytime the choice is
A:spend money
B: Adapt
Always try B until A seems worth it.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

You guys are right. I'm just being paranoid and picky about it. I'll get used to it like you guys said.

If I need to worry about something, it's getting a fix it ticket lol. Anyone know how much those cost now in CA?

It's either $50 or $100 now.

[yarisitis]

Wont take long. The reason it seems so bad is at night you look in the mirror and see NOTHING. Thats normal, once a car is back there with lights it doesnt seem bad at all.

Really if you see nothing then theres nothing to see. You may accidently back over some ninjas,,,,but them are slow ninjas, they had it coming.

Anytime the choice is
A:spend money
B: Adapt
Always try B until A seems worth it.
You couldn't have said it any better, if there's nothing there, there's nothing to see. I'm starting to get used to it, and it's not such a big deal anymore. Glad I didn't go through with the $65 re-tinting.



It's either $50 or $100 now.
Fuuuuuu, I'm crossing my fingers and knocking on wood.

[Betrivent]

If Cali's laws are anythign lke ours.. they will only ticket for front tint. Like driver's window and pax window, and windshield

[yarisitis]

Yeah, they only ticket for the front side windows.

Back windows can be as dark as you want.

[landrym28]

Between my 2 cars that I've had (both yaris), I've had my front driver/passenger side tinted for about 5 years, and I've never had a problem with the police, even though it is only 50%.

I was told, and so far, it's true, Don't give them a reason to pull you over. It seem like, around here, it's one of those "extra" things to ticket you for, if given the chance.